French Steps Up to the Challenge

Story: Tricia Booker
Photo: Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

John French didn’t have the best year of his life in 2013. Between a broken foot in January and shoulder surgery in June, he spent more time riding a golf cart than on the back of a horse.
 
But when the fall indoor show season rolled around, French, of Woodside, California, decided he would take a few of his favorite horses and venture to the East Coast for a few classes.
 
The decision turned out to be richly rewarded, as French and Small Affair jumped to victory for the third time together in the $25,000 WCHR Professional Finals, sponsored by Pony Lane Farm, held on Wednesday evening.
 
French chose the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding for the two-round class—that featured 26 of the country’s top professionals—because of their five-year partnership together and one that’s resulted in victories from coast to coast.

“I know him so well, and I’ve been riding him since his first year in 2009,” said French. “His first round was exceptionally great. He just jumped high, and it was super smooth. I think I had enough of a lead coming into the second round. I'm not sure where I ended up in the second round, not the top, maybe third or fourth. But when you add the two scores together, it was enough to win.”
 
Indeed, French’s two-round total of 178.41 points earned him the Little Brook Farm Perpetual Trophy, and his name will now be engraved as the winner for 2013, as well as in 2010 and 2011. WCHR Professional National Champion Kelley Farmer guided Mythical to second place with 177.83 points, and Hayley Barnhill rode Fonteyn to third place with 175.66 points.
 
“That was good having that cushion coming in,” said French, who edged Farmer by just .58 points. “He had a rub in the second round, but otherwise he was great. He showed here during the week in 3'6” Performance Hunters and was reserve champion as well.”
 
While French was on the sidelines healing, Small Affair led many victory gallops over the year with junior rider Samantha Sommers, including grand championship honors in the West Coast U.S. Junior Hunter Finals.
 
“He tries really hard,” said French of Small Affair. “When he first started out, he was very cautious and a little bit spooky because he's so careful. He always wants to jump a really good jump. I think there are some horses that you just have a partnership with. I wouldn't have wanted to ride any other horse in the class tonight because I know him so well. He always gives 100 percent and tries to jump a beautiful jump every time.”

Final Results: $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge
1 SMALL AFFAIR    JOHN FRENCH           91.00 90.00 90.00   90.33
                                              88.25 87.50 88.50   88.08 178.41

2 MYTHICAL        KELLEY FARMER         89.00 87.50 89.00   88.50
                                              87.50 89.50 91.00   89.33 177.83

3 FONTEYN         HAYLEY BARNHILL       87.00 88.00 87.00   87.33
                                              88.50 88.50 88.00   88.33 175.66

4 AVIGNION        JENNIFER BAUERSACHS     83.75 84.50 86.50   84.91
                                              89.00 89.00 89.00   89.00 173.91

5 BACARDI         HAVENS SCHATT         82.50 82.00 84.50   83.00
                                              91.00 91.00 84.00   88.66 171.66

6 PADDINGTON      NICK HANESS           86.00 84.00 86.00   85.33
                                              87.00 87.00 85.00   86.33 171.66

7 BAY LANE        JAMIE TAYLOR          87.50 87.00 85.00   86.50
                                              85.00 83.00 82.00   83.33 169.83

8 QUATRAIN        ELIZABETH BOYD        83.50 81.00 83.00   82.50
                                              86.00 88.00 87.00   87.00 169.50

9 EVERLY          SCOTT STEWART         84.00 83.00 81.00   82.66
                                              88.00 84.00 86.00   86.00 168.66

10 UNDENIABLE      JENNY KARAZISSIS      88.00 85.00 88.00   87.00
                                              83.00 82.00 80.00   81.66 168.66

11 INVINCIBLE      AMANDA STEEGE         82.00 86.00 84.00   84.00
                                              84.00 86.00 83.00   84.33 168.33

12 ROMANCE         PETER PLETCHER        87.75 85.50 86.75   86.66
                                              50.00 45.00 45.00   46.66 133.32